ThefilmbeginswiththemaincharacterIvanYermakovbeinginterviewed,andashebeginshisstorythefilmscutsintotheyear2000duringtheSecondChechenWar,afterthefallofGroznyaChechenwarlordAslanGugayevrunsacampnexttoanaulinthehighlandsofChechnya.DespitehavingsecureincomefromhisorganizedcrimegangsinMosc
